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Fencer Dan Alon was one of only five survivors of the slaughter of Israeli athletes by the Black September Palestinian terror group at the Munich Olympics in 1972. Shortly before dawn on September 5, eight terrorists travelled to the Olympic village and made their way to the apartments housing the Israelis.

They used stolen keys to get into two properties, the first of which contained the coaches. One of them, Moshe Weinberg, was shot in the mouth before being forced at gunpoint to lead the terrorists to other members of the team.

He said that the flat where Alon and other physically slight athletes were staying contained no Israelis and led them to the one where the wrestlers and weightlifters were staying, possibly hoping that the stronger men might be able to overpower the Palestinians.

But they were asleep and unable to act. A dozen hostages were taken but one of them, Gad Zabari, managed to escape, helped by the wounded Weinberg, who was shot dead and his body thrown naked on to the street.

The others were taken into a single bedroom where weightlifter Yossef Romano, who fought back, was shot and left to bleed to death.

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The terrorists then handed police a demand for the release of 234 Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails, plus imprisoned German terrorists Andreas Baader and Ulrike Meinhof, in return for handing over the remaining hostages.

Alon later said that they woke up at 4.30am to “a big noise of explosions and shouting. Twenty minutes later we heard machine guns firing and the whole wall of the room was shaking.”

He could see a terrorist in a balaclava on the balcony of the next-door flat and considered using the guns in their flat belonging to the shooting team.

But they were worried about the consequences and instead managed to escape, while in the early hours of September 6, the nine remaining Israeli hostages were butchered.

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Athletes late marched against the hostage crisis and murders

Shimon Peres Funeral: World leaders past and present unite to mourn

Prince Charles wearing a Yalulke, or Jewish skull cap, attends the funeral of former Israeli president Shimon Peres on September 30, 2016, at Jerusalem's Mount Herzl national cemetery.

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British former prime ministers Tony Blair (R) and David Cameron (L) attend the state funeral ceremony for Shimon Peres at Mount Herzl Military Cemeter in Jerusalem, Israel, 30 September 2016.

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Former US president Bill Clinton gestures during the state funeral ceremony for Shimon Peres at Mount Herzl Military Cemeter in Jerusalem, Israel, 30 September 2016.

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US President Barack Obama (L) stands alongside Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during the funeral of former Israeli president Shimon Peres on September 30, 2016, at Jerusalem's Mount Herzl national cemetery.

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British Foreign Minister Boris Johnson attends the funeral of former Israeli president and Nobel Peace Prize winner Shimon Peres at Jerusalem's Mount Herzl national cemetery on September 30, 2016.

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British former prime ministers Tony Blair (R) and David Cameron (C) attend the state funeral ceremony for Shimon Peres at Mount Herzl Military Cemeter in Jerusalem, Israel, 30 September 2016.

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Britain's Prince Charles (L) and French President Francois Hollande (R) are seen upon their arrival to attend the funeral of former Israeli President Shimon Peres at Mount Herzl cemetery in Jerusalem September 30, 2016.

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U.S President Barack Obama touches the flag-draped coffin of former Israeli President Shimon Peres, after eulogising him at his funeral ceremony in Mount Herzl cemetery in Jerusalem September 30, 2016.

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Former U.S. President Bill Clinton touches the flag-draped coffin of former Israeli President Shimon Peres, after eulogising him during his funeral ceremony at Mount Herzl cemetery in Jerusalem September 30, 2016.

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British Prince Charles attends the state funeral ceremony for Shimon Peres at Mount Herzl Military Cemeter in Jerusalem, Israel, 30 September 2016.

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US President Barack Obama delivers a speech during the funeral of former Israeli president and Nobel Peace Prize winner Shimon Peres at Jerusalem's Mount Herzl national cemetery on September 30, 2016.

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Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (R) talks with US President Barack Obama at the Mount Herzl national cemetery during the funeral of former Israeli president Shimon Peres on September 30, 2016.

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U.S. President Barack Obama is seen upon his arrival to attend the funeral of former Israeli President Shimon Peres at Mount Herzl cemetery in Jerusalem September 30, 2016.

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Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu leaves the stage after delivering a speech during the funeral of former Israeli president and Nobel Peace Prize winner Shimon Peres at Jerusalem's Mount Herzl national cemetery on September 30, 2016.

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A portrait of former Israeli President and Prime Minister Shimon Peres is seen at the Israeli embassy on September 30, 2016 in Berlin, Germany.

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German Chancellor Angela Merkel signs the book of condolence for Israeli ex-president and Nobel Peace Prize winner Shimon Peres on September 30, 2016 in Berlin.

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A grandson of former Israeli president Shimon Peres stands amid Knesset honour guards in front the grave of his grandfather during the burial ceremony at Mount Herzl Cemetery in Jerusalem on September 30, 2016.

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World leaders and dignitaries attend the funeral of the former Israeli leader Shimon Peres at Mount Herzl Cemetery on September 30, 2016 in Jerusalem, Israel.

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World leaders and dignitaries attend the funeral of the former Israeli leader Shimon Peres at Mount Herzl Cemetery on September 30, 2016 in Jerusalem, Israel.

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(From back L-R) Zvia, Chemi and Yoni the children of former Israeli premier Shimon Peres walk behing the coffin of their father carried by members of the parliamentary guards at the Knesset, Israel's Parliament, at the start of his funeral in Jerusalem.

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Israeli honor guards carry the coffin during during the state funeral ceremony for Shimon Peres at Mount Herzl Military Cemeter in Jerusalem, Israel, 30 September 2016

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Ultra-Orthodox Jewish youths sit atop a wall as they watch the funeral ceremony for former Israeli president Shimon Peres taking place at Mount Herzl cemetery in Jerusalem September 30, 2016.

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A German policeman also died. “Everything was covered in blood,” Alon later said about going back to collect his colleagues’ possessions.

“There were children’s books and other stuff that athletes had purchased to take home. It was a sad day for me.”

After retiring from sport he became general director of a plastics company in Tel Aviv.

In 2012 the former Olympian, who died of cancer, published Munich Memoir: Dan Alon’s Untold Story Of Survival.